Classroom Hacks

World Maths Day is tomorrow!

This is an international "Maths" day, and it's not too late to sign up!

What is it?

Students play at home and at school against other students around the world in live games of mental arithmetic.  Each game lasts for 60 seconds and students can play up to 100 games, earning points for their personal tally.  Students can play beyond 100 games during the event, but points will only count to the World Maths Day Mathometer, not their personal point score.  The students who answer the most questions correctly appear on the Hall of Fame.  There are 5 different levels of play, 20 games on each level.

Can homeschoolers participate?

Yes. We welcome school aged children and homeschoolers to register and participate. It’s a great way to improve numeracy and mental arithmetic skills and have fun in the process.

..and it's absolutely free of charge!

Fun Friday Roundup!

Thank you for all the great feedback on our new direction for Classroom Hacks!

This has been at the top of my 'to do' list for a few years.  I think it would be a great way to integrate literature into the classroom, by creating places with names of books read, or fun field trips.  You can customize a fantasy island type map, or a US map.  Very creative, very fun!

Kidlandia grew out of Brian’s 2004 concept to create personalized maps of imaginary kingdoms for children’s rooms. He believed that by providing children their own kingdoms, with friendly monsters as companions, kids would gain an increased sense of confidence, control, and self-worth. In addition, by naming the cities, islands, and other features of the kingdoms after family and friends, kids would feel more connected to those who love them. Brian, who produced educational multimedia titles for Disney and Voyager, was also intrigued by the idea that by engaging kids in namesake kingdoms, he could motivate them to understand maps, and accelerate reading skills.

Songs to help with math facts

I found many great songs on YouTube that help children memorize multiplication tables.  Check these out then search for ones that will work for your class! I think we all know the 6.7.8's are the most challenging. I say, sing them!

 

 

 

New Space Sparkle -- Free Art Lessons!

This wonderful artist and blogger teaches about 400 kids at a K-6 elementary school in Goleta, CA. Her collection of art lessons stem directly from her art room. You'll find hundreds of free, classroom-tested lessons under "Art Lessons" in the menu bar. For more detailed tutorials, instructions and handouts, you can purchase her PDF's (under "Products"). 

She includes a very handy basic art supply list and SO man great resources!  Check out her blog at http://www.deepspacesparkle.com/blog/

Keep up the good work!!!

Fun Friday Roundup!

In today's Fun Friday, I've discovered some treasures for your home, your classroom or for a special teacher in your life. If you've been featured in our Fun Friday roundup, please feel free to add a button to your blog or website!

First, from Tilependantjewelry:

How fun is this print!  You can use it in your room or office to brighten up the rainiest of rainy days.

This colorful "Teachers Make the World a better Place" Print is 8 1/2" x 11" and would look lovely in any room.
In this picture I have the print in a 11 x 14 matted frame.
**Please note- This print will not come matted or framed. **

The other print that tickled me is this one from KeepCalmShop:

"WHY THE WHIMSICAL COLLECTION OF KEEP CALM"
This vintage inspired 5x7 poster is a whimsical play off of the original. Our Whimsical Collection of Keep Calm is meant to bring a sense of humor and inspiration to continue doing the things we love....

WE HAVE A WIDE SELECTION OF COLORS. IF THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT COLOR FOR YOU, PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPY. :-)

(PURCHASE 3 POSTERS OF THE SAME SIZE AND GET 1 OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE FREE)

I hope you find something that will make you smile.  Happy Friday, happy weekend!

Get yourself a dry erase pen!

And have fun with these mugs!

I'm building an online shop, and I got permssion to create this handy list mug!

Fun Friday!

On Fridays I'll be looking for things that are fun for your classroom, or just for you.  If I pick something from your website, you'll get a free badge to put on your blog or site!

Today I'm featuring one of each.  Something fun for the classroom AND something fun for the teacher!

For the class:

Do you need ideas for occupying students during the last ten minutes of a busy day? Perhaps you want to reward kids at the end of a particularly productive day. These ten games are great for end-of-the-day fun. You can link many of them to classroom curricula too!

Education World has Ten Games for Classroom Fun

Password, Sparkle, Silence, Piecing the Puzzle, Whozit-Whatzit, Four Corners, Dictionary Deception, Chain Reaction, Seven up Heads up, and Pass the Chicken will fill the extra time you have, during rainy or snowy recess times. 

For YOU!

 

Thank goodness for the Write-On Message Mug!  Jot down your schedule, take a memo, write out your to-do list and sip your coffee all with the same multi-purpose mug.  If you're sick of wasting paper  you should happily swap your pesky notes for this glass mug with handy schedule chart. It comes with a mini pencil so you can jot down any errands or brilliant ideas that come to mind while drinking your morning coffee. As soon as they're completed you erase them right off and get started on your next list, making all those littering lists a thing of the past.  

 

Cheers, and happy weekend!

Reader's Theater and Poetry Literacy

Reader's Theatre is a great way to get students motivated to read and become engaged in what they are learning.

• AaronShep (reader's theatreand young author's tips) - Includes Stories on Stage is a collection of reader’s theater scripts for young readers, adapted from stories by fifteen different authors, including such favorites as Roald Dahl, Nancy Farmer, and Louis Sachar. Coming from such genres as humor, fantasy, and multicultural folktales, the stories have been selected for their dramatic quality, literary value, and appeal to young people.

• Giggle Poetry (Poetry Theater)

 

• Teaching Heart (Reader's Theater with links and downloadable scripts) "Readers Theater is a dramatic presentation of a written work in a script form.  Readers read from a "script" and reading parts are divided among the readers. No memorization, costumes, blocking, or special lighting is needed. Presentations can easily be done in a k-3 classroom.  Scripts are held by the readers. Lines are not memorized. The focus is on reading the text with expressive voices and gestures. Making comprehending the text meaningful and fun for the student! Once you start Reader's Theater in your classroom you and your students will be loving it!!!"

Follow Classroom Hacks on Twitter, Math Helpers

Now that we're back to a (mostly) daily schedule, please add us to your twitter list.   Click here or the big box to the right that says "Follow Me" ;)

MATH HELP - in the classroom and at home

Reader John sent in this great hack:

"First In Math is appropriate for addition- through algebra-ready students, and each area aligns to NCTM standards. The site offers broad content, with an open-ended, self-pacing design that is ideal for differentiated instruction.  It costs $6-8 per student depending on how many lisences you purchase. Many schools are using this with GREAT success!"

Loyal fan Brittany sent this in:

"Multiplication.com has helped my students greatly.  They can use it in the classroom or at home for added practice.  I include it on all my materials sent home.  The games are engaging and fun, and not too much advertising"

Tune in tomorrow for more Classroom Hacks!

Some new deals - Audible and Scholastic

Thank you for all the great feedback and inquiries to my health!  Things are going much better and I have SO much to share with you.  To get us started, here's a coupon for 500 'free' Scholastic Bonus Points if you sign up for one of my favorite online tools, Scholastic Printibles.

USE CODE:  BPHP12

Audio Books are a great way to 'read' books while correcting papers, commuting to and from work or working out.  This is how I've been reading all my books lately.  Here's a great deal (teachers or not) where you can sign up and get a free book.  I recommend Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire

Try Audible Now and Get A FREE Audiobook

More tomorrow!